Never heard that Dylan quote before,; that's good. Signed up for the Mudcat some time ago, but I think i've been smartin' since the election, and haven't had a word to say. But Arthel Watson is another story. Doc is the glue that kept me a folkie through all the early years of my teens and twenties when I learned about singing, harp playing and hacking at a guitar. Ended up as an old-time musician, but never had a chance to sit across from him and play with him, which would be bliss.

Everytime I see a Doc thread I worry that it's bad news or something...

When I was seventeen I had all those Vanguard records, and then I went off to college and a guy in my dorm could flatpick damn well, and we would sing Way Downtown, Tennessee Stud, Froggie Went A Courtin', etc. The psydchedelic era ensued, but I hung on, and one time when I was a senior, an early version of Portable Folk Festival came through campus, and Doc was on the bill, and I was assigned to hang out with and put up John Jackson, the great and fine Tidewater fingerpicker. Saturday, after dinner and before the show, the performers hung out in the big campus performance room, and Doc and John Jackson sat back in a quiet corner and talked, caught up, you might say, as I sat near...and that was a moment let me tell you, people, and I have seen some good folk workshops up close in my time.

My music interests diverged into blues and Celtic, and then in the early Eighties I ended up in a string band. Everytime we play Seneca Square Dance or Wild Bill Jones I think of Doc, and how I still can't get down 'Miss the Mississipi and You.' Every recording of Doc should be cherished. A North Carolina legacy, and a testament to all that is good and true in music and in life.

I was in a rowdy eastern CT club in the late Seventies, I think Bromberg was the opener, and Doc came out with Merle and the bass player M. Coleman, and lots of reefer was making the rounds and the ceilings were low, and Doc admonished the assembled throng about that funny weed, and how it mignt burn some folks' eyes. The whole place was cowed, and intent, through Doc's set, especially quiet in the wake of the rockin' folk/blues that had preceded him. Powerful dude.

What can I say: Dylan said it all about that picking, but what a voice, and a clear straight-shooter....Doc Watson.

Sorry for the long-winded post, kinda pent up I guess, takes a Doc song to kick it out...love oh love oh careless love....